DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjmcr.2025.v13i12.005

Pages: 2926-2929

Introduction: Malaria, a major parasitic disease, persists in Morocco in its imported form. In this non-endemic context, C-reactive protein (CRP), a common inflammatory marker, is systematically measured during febrile illness workups. However, its specific diagnostic value for imported malaria remains poorly defined and understudied. This study therefore aims to evaluate the usefulness of CRP as a warning tool to guide diagnosis. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study conducted from January 2017 to December 2024 in the Parasitology-Mycology department of the Mohammed V Military Instruction Hospital in Rabat, involving 816 patients suspected of imported malaria. Blood samples were analyzed using thin and thick blood smears for parasite detection and calculation of parasitemia, while CRP levels were measured by chemiluminescence. Data were processed using the DXLAB system and then analyzed with Excel. Results: Of the 816 patients (mean age 34.2 years), the population was predominantly male (92.77%) with a sex ratio of 12.8. Among them, 40% (n=326) tested positive for malaria, with the predominant species being P. falciparum (40.8%) and P. ovale (36.81%). Among patients with confirmed parasitemia, 79.86% had elevated CRP (>5 mg/L), with a mean of 85.39 mg/L. More than half (56.08%) had a CRP > 50 mg/L. CRP levels were significantly higher in positive patients (79.99 mg/L) than in negative ones (56.79 mg/L). Discussion and conclusion: This study confirms that malaria remains a frequent cause of fever among travelers in Morocco, with a 40% confirmation rate among suspected cases. Infections due to P. falciparum and P. ovale are predominant. The marked elevation of CRP in most patients makes it a good warning marker in this context. However, definitive diagnosis remains irreplaceably dependent on direct parasitological examination (thin and thick blood smears).